Home Electronics Industry News -- May 2000

NOTE: This page is an archive for previously posted news stories from May 2000 - Since most of the links are now inactive, they have been removed. However, the headlines and summaries are still posted to historically document the news headlines from the dates listed.

05/31/00
RCA Goes Retail With Radio Shack
RCA Teams up with Radio Shack in a store-within-a-store concept featuring Digital TV and Audio Products.

Networks Drag On Digital 5.1 Broadcasts
The new DTV/HDTV standards allow for Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio transmission, but why are the major networks dragging their feet on this upgrade?

05/30/00
Licence To Thrill
A British engineer has the key to "supercharging" off-the-shelf DVD players. By modifying their output capabilities and installing a Serial Digital Interface, average Home DVD Players can deliver amazing results. Check out the implications of his work in the above report by New Scientist.

05/28/00
Brandwise Closing Shop
Online Comparative appliance and home electronics site, Brandwise.com seems to be suffering the fate of a lot of other dot com shopping sites these days.

05/27/00
Can You Get An APEX For $90?
Recently, A bulk internet mail ad has offered the popular APEX AD-600A DVD player for $89. Is this a great offer, or just a scam.

05/26/00
Real Networks Touts Video Advance
Real Networks has developed video streaming technology that yields VHS quality.

05/25/00
NAPSTER Draws Members From Lawsuit Publicity
It seems that all the ruckus revolving around NAPSTER and recording industry and artists has generated more business for the controversial Online music provider.

05/23/00
Marantz To Ship High End SACD Player
Following the path laid out by SONY in advancing the SACD (Super Audio CD) Format, Marantz brings its own player to market.

05/22/00
Hybrid MP3/CD Player Offers Best Of Both Worlds
Technology convergence in consumer electronics continues its aggressiveness with the introduction of a portable combination MP3/CD Player. Will this insure the survival of both the CD and MP3 audio formats?

05/21/00
Onkyo Expands DVD Line, Adds Upscale Receivers
Onkyo heads full steam into the DVD market with Five new DVD Players (including a 301 Mega Disc Changer), as well as several new upscale A/V Receivers with such features as Dolby Surround EX decoding, and hardware/software upgradability.

05/19/00
Showtime Adopts TIVO Feature
New feature allows TIVO users to record Showtime programs by selecting them during Showtime preview segments.

05/18/00
Web VCR Site Under Scrutiny
RecordTV, a Web service that allows users to record TV shows and play them back online is under scrutiny for possible copyright violations.

05/17/00
Satellite Companies Woo Angry Cable Subscribers
The fallout from the Time/Warner - ABC/Disney dispute over Cable access is giving Satellite companies a new marketing hook in getting new customers.

SONY Tells Consumers To Stick it!
In order to firm up its market share for its new Memory Stick compatible products. SONY strikes up a strategic alliance with Circuit City, by placing special displays and demonstrations of these products in Circuit's store locations.

05/16/00
USA Digital Radio Gets An Additional $41 Million Of Funding
Digital Radio Broadcasting is inching its way to reality in the U.S. and financial backing for the technology increases.

05/14/00
Kodak Chairman Says Investors Haven't Gotten Digital Message
Despite the fact that Kodak is a leader in Digital Imaging Technology, many investors still think of Kodak as an "old technology" company devoted only to film processing.

05/13/00
Sears Considering Free-Standing CE/MAJAP Stores
Watch out, Circuit City, Best Buy, and Home Depot! Sears is considering opening smaller Consumer Electronics and Appliance Stores to supplement its mainline Department Stores.

05/12/00
Matsushita Reports On A Sluggish Fiscal 2000
Despite strong sales of DVD Players, Matsushita, parent of Panasonic and Technics, reported a sluggish fiscal 2000, with lower than expected overall sales.

05/11/00
HDTV Leader Unveils New Products And Strategy
RUNCO, the leader in High-end HDTV and Projection TV technology, unveiled its new product line recently, including DLP and Plasma TVs.

05/10/00
DISH Network To Release Long-Awaited HD Receiver
Dish Network jumps on the HDTV bandwagon with a new HD receiver.

05/09/00
Mitsubishi Unveils Next Phase Of DTV Rollout
Mitsubishi reiterates its support for Digital Television and Home Theater Products at its latest product unveiling in Las Vegas.

Best Buy To Bite Big Apple This Fall
As if the New York consumer electronics market isn't already saturated, here comes Best Buy (the nation's largest consumer electronics retailer) with several stores planned for opening this Fall.

05/08/00
Slow Sales Weigh Heavily On Digital TV Company
Happauge Digital, makers of parts for Digital TV Receivers and other components for the DTV market, is experiencing lackluster sales as the pace of DTV acceptance in the consumer market is not moving as fast as expected.

05/05/00
Dish Network Offers No Equipment Purchase Satellite Program
Shades of Primestar! Dish Network is now offering a Digital Satellite two-room system with no equipment purchase required.

Best Buy Begins Selling Panasonic Showstopper
Panasonic's Showstopper Hard Disk video recorder, featuring ReplayTV Service is now available at all Best Buy Stores, alongside TIVO.

05/04/00
Fans Force Star Wars DVD Release
With George Lucas feeling the heat from fans regarding the lack of a Star Wars DVD release, it looks like all the Star Wars Films (including Episode 1) may be released sooner than originally announced.

05/03/00
Top Electronic Chains Boast Huge Gains in '99
Aggressive competition, new store openings, and new technology products enabled the top Consumer Electronics chains (led by Best Buy, Circuit City, and CompUSA ) to post a 14.8% incrrease in sales for 1999.

05/02/00
Hitachi Unveils new Product Line
Along with Digital8 camcorders, Hitachi unveils a new line of TVs, VCRs, and other consumer products.

05/01/00
SONY Losses Mount
All is not well at SONY these days, especially with its Playstation2 startup costs.

For more News Stories check out my Home Electronics Industry News Archives.